Mary Allen
The forefathers of the German Shorthaired Pointer were used in the Mediterranean to hunt feathered game with nets. Find out everything about the behavior, character, activity and exercise needs, training, and care of the dog breed German Shorthaired Pointer in the profile.
These pointing dogs were passed on to the German princely courts via France, Spain, and Flanders. There the pure pointing dog was further bred into a versatile hunting dog. The breed standard required today makes the German Shorthaired Pointer a dog that has to meet all hunting requirements up to old age.
General Appearance
At first glance, this dog is recognizable as a typical hunting dog: its physique signals strength, endurance, and speed. His coat is shiny, his physique is taut, his posture upright, his movements harmonious. The German Shorthaired Pointer is available as a purely brown dog, from brown roan to black roan, even as black and all transitional forms in between.
Behavior and temperament
The German Shorthaired Pointer has a reputation for being firm, even-tempered, and dependable, with a controlled temperament. Hardness, endurance and a passion for water are also firmly anchored inbreeding. Nervousness and aggressiveness are foreign to his nature. He is the perfect companion for a hunter but also adapts easily to life in a family. He is very affectionate and eager to learn.
Need for employment and physical activity
The German Shorthaired Pointer needs a lot of exercise and tasks that also keep it mentally busy. Track work and retrieval training are ideal. Above all, however, the pointing dog is suitable for hunting, it has an excellent sense of smell and likes to fetch. If he is not used as a hunting companion, he should definitely be given the opportunity to track and retrieve. Of course, this bundle of energy also needs plenty of exercises.
Upbringing
This dog shows a special willingness to learn and is extremely intelligent. He prefers to learn in a playful way, but he does not like constant repetition. Once he has mastered an exercise, you should move on to the next task, otherwise, there is a risk that he will become bored and refuse. Due to his nice character and high intelligence, he is actually easy to train. However, problems are programmed if the owner is not a hunter and does not offer an alternative to which the German Shorthaired Pointer can contribute its energy.
Maintenance
Due to its short, dense coat of hair, it is easy to care for: an occasional brushing is enough to conjure up the shine in the robust coat. Nevertheless, one should check its fur regularly for thorns and ticks and also keep a watchful eye on the sensitive pads. These should possibly be creamed with a care lotion.
Disease Susceptibility / Common Diseases
Rare cases of metabolic diseases are known in the German Shorthaired Pointer. Basically, however, it is a very robust breed in terms of health.
Did you know?
Because of its strength and stamina and hardy nature, the German Shorthaired Pointer is also used successfully as a sled dog in the United States and northern countries.